Quick coupler valve



SePt- 6, 1932- w. VAN E. 4THOMPSON 1,875,679

QUICK COUPLER VALVE Filed oct. s, 1928 #n A Z K my .1. C FW@ mpg-Lg? Z7 .ETTOEISEEY Patented Slept. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER VAN E. THOMPSON, or Los ANGELES., CALIFORNIA, AssIGNOR To THOMPSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AA CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA QUICK COUPLE VALVE Application 4filed October 6, 19728. `Serial No. 310,705."k j

My invention relates to irrigation sprinklers, and relates particularly to the ytype of sprinkling system having a detachable sprinkler-unit which is above the ground level, and an underground portion having a permanent part to Which the detachable sprinkler-unit may be attached. This type of irrigation system is used principally on playgrounds, golf courses, and the like, because When the sprinklers are not in use they may be removed and there will be no projections Which Will interfere With the use of the property. When it is desired to irrigate the property, the detachable sprinkler-unit may be attached to the permanent part of the underground portion.

This type of sprinkler is usually made so that the sprinkler-unit opens a valve in the underground portion When it is attached thereto. In the ordinary form of sprinkler system of this nature the sprinkler-unit is attached to the underground portion by a latchmeans. The valve-opening means is so con- 'structed that the valve is opened before the sprinkler-unit is entirely placed on the underground portion. This allows the Water to leak, and it will spray onto the operator. A further disadvantage is that the area around the permanent portion is usually muddy because of the excess of irrigation.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a sprinkler system of this character in which the sprinkler-unit is connected to the permanent part before the valve is Opened. This feature is advantageous inasmuch as it prevents leakage during the installing of the sprinkler-unit.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a sprinkler system in Which the valve of the permanent part is closed before the Vsprinkler-unit is detached from the permanent part. This feature prevents a leakage duri n g the removal of the sprinkler unit.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a sprinkler system in Which the sprinkler-unit is screW-threadedly connected to the permanent part of the system. This feature provides a reliable connection betvveen these parts so that a fluid-tight connection is assured, and so that there is no danger of the sprinkler-unit being inadvertently detached.

`valve of the permanent part,

A still further obj ect of the'invention is to provide a sprinkler system of the character in which the permanent part has a Water passage vvhich is closed by a closure member, and

in` which the sprinkler-unit hasa coupling portion which removes vthe closure from the end of the passage When the sprinkler-unit is installed. The coupling portion moves into the end'of the passage as the closure is removed from the end of the passage. This.

feature of the `invention prevents foreign matter from entering the permanent part, and furthermore provides'for a' tightclosure for the permanent part When the sprinklerunit is vnot installed. j

A further object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler system v of the character referred to in vvhich the closure operates 1a f Which. Y valve closes the passage therethrough. j

A further obj ect ofthe invention isv to provide a sprinkler system in-Wh'ich thefclosure is threadedly located inthe end of the passage, and in which the sprinkler-unit Vhas means v'for rotating the closure to advance it from the end of the passage, the coupling portion of the sprinkler-unit Y also being threaded andbeing advanced into thethreaded end as the closure isadvanced from the threaded end. V f

It is another object'of the invention to provide a sprinkler systemy of the character specified, in which the valve of the permanent portion is adjustable relative to the closure, so that it may be, opened' different detached, and may be adjusted from the top of the permanent part Without disassembling any of the parts.

It is a still further obj ect of the invention.

to provide la sprinkler system in which the closure is engaged' by the sprinkler-unit, and

l closure engagesI and opens the; valve so that moved from the end of the opening, and in which a coupling part of the sprinkler-unit simultaneously moves into the opening. After the coupling part of the sprinkler-unit is at least partly in the end of the passage the a iiow. of water occurs. Y

An obj ect of the invention is to provide a sprinkler coupling which has but few parts j and which is positive injoperation. ,l An important part of the invention is that the valve is opened by means on the closure,

but is closed by separate meansl such asa'- spring or water pressure. j.

Another important' part of" is..I that the closure is providedvwithja. seat Whichis clamped against the body ofthe permanent part lof the device in yorder that` leakage-be prohibitedi4 20'.v Y In the vpreferred form.v ofl my invention the permanent part is provided with a passage having'a threaded opening anda seat surrounding the opening..l The' closure has a threaded portion adapted to-screw into.- the threaded opening, and hasma large portion adapted. totightly eng-age the seat.. In the passage lis valve means operable when said closure is operated.

,refer during.- the following deseriptionfto the .accompanying drawing in which, l

Fig. 1 is, anelevationah View partly.v in section showing `that part orf asprinklersystem .embodying the essentials ofi my. invention. thisviewl thesprinller-junit. is shown, in a-.positionready to be attachedto the permanent part.

, j, Figs-.2and3 are sectionall views taken on A thecerresponding/ lines-of Fig.A 1.

Fig. 4fis an elevational. section showing the sprinkler-unit fullyl attached tothe permanent parta JLFig. -is asection taken on the line 5-5 of Eiga/L.

Fig-,Gis a view of a. strainer plate ofy the invention.l

-I shall now shown inthe drawing, vwhichv constitute my invention. y i y y The `sprinkler, system includes underground header-piping'll provided with Ts,

et lfr-'onrwhich vertical. supply-pipes 13 extend.

Tot-he. upper end of each verticalr supplypipe 13 a permanent part 14 whichfembodies the-features of the invention. is secured.

1f shall-now describe in detailthe construetion of the permanent part 14 and the sprinthrough the cylindrical opening 29..

describe in detail'the. l'parts lrler-unit 15 which cooperates therewith. Threadedly secured at at the upper end of the supply-pipe 13 is a shell 21, the upper end 22 of which is located at or slightly below the level 23 of the ground. The shell 21 provides 'a water-passage 25.y The upper end of the water-passage 25 is reduced in diameter, and is provided with a threaded end or threaded opening 26. The upper part of the Water-passage 25V is provided with four equi-spacedvertical` guide-ribs27 which are threaded on a larger diameter than the threadedend 26. rlhe central part of the shell 21 has an kannular removable partition- 28vvliich entends inwardly into the pas- Sage 25I and-defines a cylindrical. opening 29.

The partition 28 is clampedbetweenthe parts 30 and. 30aV which form-'the shell 21. The

partitionj23 constitutesavalve seat which is engaged by a valve 31, whichwill now be described'. Y Thisvalve 31 includes a member 32V provided with an annular channel vwhich` receivesa gasket ,33, this gasket 33 being. adapted' to engage the partition 28V for forming a fluid-tight seal.` y

Proj eatingV upward inside the a cylindrical wall 35 adapted to 1aroje'ct he Cylindrical wal-i 35 is provided withV-shaped notches 36 which` act as a. regulating means... -for the valve. y

- lower par-t ofy the passage 25. Placed inthe lower partof the'passage against ashoulder oftheshell.is-aperforatedplate 39.. Between ,the plate 39 and the `valve 31 is ai spring'40 which` tends to hold the valve invseated position.l

The threaded end526 ofthe shell 21 is adapted to be closed by a plug 42 which constitutes 'the closure of the invention. rlhe closure 42 has av reduced end 43 which `is threaded to screw intothe threaded end 26; and has a large end 44 which-ris threadedto mesh with the threadson the guide-ribs 27. Surroundingthe inner end' of the threadedv end 26 is-an annular seati, andcarried by the upper part 0f the large end 44 of the closure is a sealing gasket-4b' capable of engaging the. seat as shown in Fig. 1. Y

Formed .through the closure-42 isa` threadedopening 47 whichV isA parallel to the axis of the-passage 25. rhreadedly secured in the opening'47 is a' plunger 50 which is locked'in.v place by a threaded plug 51. The lower end ofthe plunger O'eXtendsj inside the cylindrical wall 35 and is adapted to engage an.

'upper wall 52 of` the valve member 32- for removing the valve 31 from its seat.

gasket. 33 is l i The 'lower portion of the v f art' 32. is in the form of a; cvlindric'al boss that the upper end of the plunger is accessible from the top of the-permanent part 14 when the plug 51 is removed. The plunger 50 constitutes the valve-opening means ofthe invention.

The sprinkler-unit 15v has a coupling-part to which a vertical column-pipe 61 is threadedly secured. The upper end of the column-pipe 61 is provided with a rotating sprinkler-head 62, which may be of any standard form. The coupling-part 60 is provided with handles 63 whereby it may be rotated. main portion of the coupling-part 60 is a threaded-portion 64 provided with external threads 65 of the same diameter and pitch as the internal threads in the end 26 of the shell 21. v

Supported in the lower part of a passage 66 formed through the coupling-part 60 is a diametral key 67, which projects downward from the lower part of the threaded-portion 64. This key 67 is adapted toextend into a key-slot 68 provided in the upper part of the closure 42, as is illustrated inthe drawing.

Threadedly secured at 7 O to the coupling- Vpart 60 is a guide-sleeve 71. The guide-sleeve 71 is cylindrical and is of such a diameter that it will receive the upper part of the shell 21. The guide-sleeve 71 is adapted to hold the coupling-part 60 in alignment with the shell 21 so that the threaded-portion 65 will be in alignment with the threaded end 26 of the passage 25. At'the upper part of the threaded-portion 64 inside the guidesleeve 70 is an annular packing-member 72 adapted to form a seal between the coupling part 60 and the upper end 22 ofthe shell 21 when the sprinkler-unit 15 is connected to the permanent-part 14 as illustrated in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing the parts of the ,permanent-part 14 are shown in the positions they occupy when the sprinkler-unit 15 is ready to be connected tothe permanentpart. It will be seen that the valve 31 is tightly closed by the spring 40, and that the closure 42 closes the upper end of the passage 25. The gasket 46 is securely held against the seat 45 so that the permanent-part is fluid tight. All of the parts are at this time below the ground level 28 and will not interfere with any activities on the property. When it is desired to irrigate the property, the sprinkler-unit 15 is attached to the permanent-part 14. The operation of attaching the parts will now be described.

The sprinkler-unit 15 is placed in such a position that the key 67 extends into the keyslot 68 and the lower part of the guide-sleeve 71 extends around the upper part of the shell 21. The sprinkler-unit is thus shown in Fig.

1. The sprinkler-unit is then rotated by means ofthe handles 63 in such a direction that the plug or closure 42 is screwed down- Projecting downward from theward from the threaded-end 26 of the shelll 21. As the closure 42 advances downward the sprinkler-unit 15 moves downward therewith, and the threaded-portion 64 will be screwed into the threaded-end 26 of the passage 25. The key 67 is made of a proper size so that the threads 65 of the threaded-portion 64 will properly enter the threaded end 26 of the passage 25.A i

The sprinkler-unit 15 is rotated untilv the partsoccupy the positions shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. the threaded-portion 64 has completely entered the threaded end 26, and the annular gasket orsealing-nieans 7 2 is in seal.- ing contactwith the upper end 22 of the shell 21. There is absolutely no possibility of any leakage. The lower end of the vplunger 50, by reason of this engagement with vthe wall 52, has Amoved the valve 31 from closed position as illustrated in Fig. 1, into open position as illustrated in Fig. 4. At this time the water will How through the passage 25, as indicated by arrows 75, and into the sprinkler-unit 15, as indicated by arrows 76. The valve 31 is not opened until the threaded portion 64 has entered the threaded end 26. The sprinkler-unit 15 is Adetached from the permanent-part 14 by rotating itin the opposite direction from which it is rotatedto A install it. When this rotation occurs the` threaded-portion 64 of the coupling-part 6() moves upward from the threaded end' 26 of thepassage 25. The pressure of the-spring 40 against the valve member 32 causes the valve 31 to close. The valve comes against its seat shortly after the closure 42 has entered the threaded opening'2'6. As'rotation of the sprinkler-unit continues, the closure 42 and the parts connected'thereto continue to move upward. When the closure member 42 arrives aty closing position the gasket 46 thereof is clamped against the seat 45 Of the shell 21, thus forming a fluid-tight seal.V

The construction we have just described embodies all of the features of the invention which were pointed out in the statement of invention of the application.

Briefly enumerated, the most important advantages of the invention are as follows:

allo

During the attaching and detaching of the 71.15

the threaded portion 64 has entered the threaded end 26, and in view of the fact that the valve 31 is closed before the threadedportion 64 is entirely advanced from the threaded end 26.

Another advantage results fromthreadedly connecting the sprinkler-unit 15 to the permarient-part 14. This threaded connection makes it possible-to form a fluid-tigntseal and assures that the sprinkler-unit 15 will not become inadvertently `detached from the permanent-part 14.

Y fio Another advantage of the invention resultsfrom the providing of theclosure Y42 which fillsV the threaded-end 2bv when the sprinl' unit y isdetached fromthe permanent-part 14. This provision absolutely kprevents any dirt or other foreign matter from entering the permanent-part 14, and obviates the possibiflity of any foreign matter interfering with the operation of the parts.

Y further feature of the invention results froml the provision of the adjustable plunger 50, which determines the time during the attaching of the sprinkler-unit 15 at which theY valvel will be removed from its seat, and determines the amount thatithe valve will be opened. By screwing the plunger upward; the valve will be opened a smaller amount than is shown in Fig. 4; and by screw- Y ing the plunger 50 downward the valve will be opened a'greater amount than is shownV in Fig. 4.

Another advantage of the invention is the plunger 50 is adjustable when the sprinkler-unit" 15 is removed; without requiring the dismantling of any ofthe parts of the permarient-part 14. As shown in the drawing, the upper end of the plunger 50 is accessible through the top of the opening 4'? formed in the closure 42.

Averyl important advantage of the invention is that' the closure 42 forms a nuid-tight sealv when in the position shown in Fig. l.

vTherev are numerous other. inherent and obvious advantages of the invention, which kI believe. have been made manifest in the foregoing description.

I'have described the invention as embodied in a sprinkler system. The principle of the invention is not limited to this Jarticular art; but may be embodied in construction of other arts where it is desired to have parts equivalent to the operative parts illnstraterL in this application. In view of the breadth of the invention, I desire to h avethe invention construed in the scope of the appended claims.

I claimV as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, the combinationy of: shell forming a passage7 a valve adapted to close said passage closure adapted to close one end of saidpassage; a seat vin said shell; an engaging means on said closure adapted to engage said seat and Vseal said end of said passage; means for removing said closure from closing position; and valve-opening means for unse said .valve when said closure is removed from closing position.

2. In a device of the class described; the

combination of: a shell forming a passage;

moving said closure Yfromclosing position;

rsait amounts.

3. In device of the class described; the

Vcoinhinedion of: a shell forming a passage;

a valve adapted to close said passage; a clol im pose of unseating said valve .dilierent sure disposed within said passage; a `seat in said shell; an engaging means on said closure adapted to engage said seat and seal one end of s id passage; external means for reinovingsaid closure from closing position; said me es, having a projection adapted to move into the endof said passage to engage andunseat said closure; and valve-opening meansr for nnseating said valve whenV said closure is removed from closing position, said valve-opening means being adjustably supported in order that salie i i ybe adjusted in position for the purposerof unseating said valve different amounts.

.a device of the class described; the combii` n of: a shell forming-a passage, passage having screw-threaded end; a valve adapted to olosesaid passage; a closure adapted to screw-thread into said screwthreaded end of said passage.; a seat in said shell; an engaging" means on said closure adapted to said seat and seal said end of said .i ns rota said from: said and Vvaline-op said valve ywhen screw-threaded end; means for unseat `closure is removed rrom` closing position. f

Vsaid passage having a screw-threaded end;

a valve adapted to close said passage; a closure adapted to screw-thread into said screw-threaded end of said passage; 'a seat in said shell; an= engaging means onsaid closure adapted to engage said seat and seal said' end of said passage; means for rotating said closure so as to advance saine from said screw-threaded end, said means having a threaded portion adapted to be screwed into screw-threaded endof said passage as said closure is removed therefrom; and valveopening means for unseating said valve when aid closure is removed from closing position'. 6. In a device of the class described; the combination of: a shell forming apassage; said passage having screw-threaded end; a valve adapted to close said passage; a closure adapted to screw-thread into; said screwthreaded end of said passage; a seat in said shell; an engaging means on said closure dapted to engage said seat and seal said end of said passage; means for rotating said closure so as to advance same from saidy screwthreaded end; said means havingathrea-ded portion adapted to be screwedinto said screw,-

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threaded end of said passage as said closure is removed therefrom; and valve-opening means for unseating said valve when said closure is removed from closing position, said valve-opening means being adjustably supported in order that same may be adjusted in position for the purpose of unseating said valve dierent amounts.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a shell forming a passage, a portion oi" said passage being threaded, and forming a threaded-end, said threaded-end having threads of the same pitch as said threads in said passage; a closure having a. reduced end and a large end, said ends of said closure having threads for meshing with said threads in said threaded end and said passage respectively, said closure being removable from a position in which said reduced end closes said threaded end, into a position in which said reduced end opens said threaded end; operating means operating said closure; av seat in said shell; an engaging means on said closure adapted to engage said seat when said closure is in a position to fully close said threaded end; and valve means in said passage operated by said closure.

8. In a device of the class described, the combina-tion of: a shell forming a. passage, a portion of said passage being threaded, and forming a threaded-end, said threaded-'end having threads of the same pitch as said threads in said passage; a closure having a reduced end and a large end, said ends of said closure having threads for meshing with said threads in said threaded-end and said passage respectively, said closure being movable Jfrom a position in which said reduced end closes said threaded-end, into a position in which said reduced end opens said threaded-end; operating means for operating said closure; a seat in said shell; an engaging means on said closure adapted to engage said seat when said closure is in a position to fully close said threaded-end; a valve seat in said passage; a valve adapted to engage said valve seat; seat-- ing means for said valve; and valve-opening means whereby said closure opens sai d-valve. V

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a shell forming a passage, a portion of said passage being threaded. and

forming a `threaded-end, said threaded-end having threads of the same pitch as said threads in said passage; a closure having a reduced end and a. large end, said ends of said closure having threads for meshing with' said threads in said threaded-end and said passage respectively, said closure being movable from a position in which said reduced end closes said threaded-end, into a position in which said reduced end opens said threaded end; operating means for operating said closure; a seat in said shell; an engaging means on said closure adapted to engage said seat when said closure is in a position to fully said valve; and valve-opening means wheres i by said closure opens said valve.

10. In a quick coupler device, the combination of: a primary part adapted to be connected to a supply means; a valve guide removably connected to the upper end of said primary part; valve means seatable against said valve guide and retained thereby in said primary part; a secondary part secured to said primary part and lhaving a closure means; and operating means whereby said valve means is operated subsequent to said closure means.

l1. In a quick coupler device, the combinnation of: a primary part adapted to be connected to a supply means; a valve Guide removably connected to the upper end of said primary part; a valve member seatable against said valve guide and retained thereby in said primary part; a plate in said primary part; a spring compressed between said valve member and saidplate; a secondary part secured to said primary part and having a closure means; and operating means whereby said valve member is operated subsequent to said closure means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 29th day of September, 1928.

WALTER VAN E. THOMPSON. 

